 Working together to connect. Disasters can destroy livelihoods and lives. They can upend communities and reverse years of development. Being prepared for disasters and managing disaster risk is crucial for saving lives and protecting economies. Telecommunications as well as information and communication technologies play an important role in disaster preparedness, mitigation and management. Allowing people to share information quickly. Before, during and after a disaster. National emergency telecommunication plans can help manage disaster risk by helping communities prepare and respond. Emergency communication systems provide early warnings and ensure communication continuity. ITU members have co-created a report on the use of telecommunications slash ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management, including case studies describing lessons learned. The report features, one, an overview of the role of telecommunications in the disaster risk management cycle. Two, a comprehensive overview of the role of enabling policies and regulatory environments. Three, a discussion on disaster communication technologies. Four, a discussion of early warning and alert systems. And five, guidelines for preparing and conducting disaster communication exercises and drills. Access to robust, resilient, secure ICT infrastructure worldwide is critical during a disaster. And enabling policy environments are needed to support resilient networks so that we can use ICTs when disaster strikes. Disasters can occur anytime, anywhere, with little or no warning. And networks and infrastructure need to be built to withstand all kinds of hazards. Working together, we can help ensure that rapid response measures are ready. Working together to connect www.itu.int